This 1960s toy may have inspired the design of the Leman Russ tank, as Games Workshop has “borrowed” many ideas for their miniatures…
We recently took a look at where some of GW’s designs came from, and an astute community member, It’s just really fun to take a look at where GW gets their designs from for the background of Warhammer 40k ( **cough** Dune, 2000 AD, Star Wars ***cough** **cough**) to the equipment and vehicles.
GW Borrowed This 1960’s Toy To Make The Leman Russ!
These pics come from a sale listing on eBay, and man; these old toys look so much like the Leman Russ; it’s wild!
Especially when you look from the top, it’s quite clear they had to take some serious inspiration from them. If they somehow never saw these WW1-style tanks, it’s quite a coincidence. The dimensions aren’t even super different, as they were about 6.5 inches long and 3.5 inches high. The one thing the old tanks had over the new ones, they actually fired little shells!
You could even get them to shoot up to around 7 feet!
Games Workshop Leman Russ Tank:
From the big turret to the side sponsons to the tracks running all around, this is like an updated version of the old Remco tank. Sure, GW threw on some exhaust pips and little extras, but the standard tank is basically the same.
Again, it’s just something fun to look at and see how cool old toys are. It brings you back to the ‘good old days’ and makes you realize people have been playing with awesome miniature tanks for a long time!
Where GW “Borrowed” Their Other Tank Designs From
What do you think about where Games Workshop May have gotten its idea for the Leman Russ tank design?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group and our Discord server. Make sure you enter the latest monthly giveaway for FREE today!
Click Here To Follow Us On Google News
Get ad-free access to our hobby videos and a monthly drop of miniatures. Plus, support some of the best creators out there for as little as $6 a month on Patreon!
Click Here For All the Hobby Products & Tools We Swear By
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
